Buccaneers Pick Six: Lions deal season ending blow

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Detroit Lions players celebrate after recovering a fumble in the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Detroit Lions players celebrate after recovering a fumble in the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 10: Detroit Lions players celebrate after recovering a fumble in the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 10: Detroit Lions players celebrate after recovering a fumble in the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially been eliminated from playoff contention after a 24-21 loss to the Detroit Lions.

That’s it. I mean, it was already over, but now it’s officially over. With a 24-21 loss to the Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Seems like it has been that way for months now, doesn’t it?

It was an ugly game for both teams – the two combined for eight turnovers – but it was the Lions that emerge victorious has they have on so many occasions this season in close games. Matthew Stafford – as long as he isn’t facing a team with a winning record – finds a way to get things done in crunch time. The Buccaneers’ defense? Not so much.

Look, the defense isn’t to blame in this one Yet again, it was a total team effort. The offense squandered opportunities and turned the ball over five times but when it came time to shore up and get a stop to have a chance at the end, the defense got soft and Stafford picked them apart. Even with self-inflicted wounds, the Lions found a way to expose the Bucs’ defense to get into range for Matt Prater‘s game winning field goal.

Let’s pick six, shall we?